Councillors will consider whether to approve a major development which would see hundreds of homes built on a former car park.

Union Place in Worthing could be transformed into 216 apartments and commercial space if the proposal is given the green light this evening.

There would be 104 one-bed, 100 two-bed and 12 three-bed apartments.

The buildings would be between four and 11 storeys and 20 per cent of the apartments allocated to be affordable homes.

A replacement car park with 146 spaces has also been proposed as well as communal gardens, cycle parking and vehicular access from Chatsworth Road.

The Argus: The Union Place siteThe Union Place site (Image: Worthing Borough Council)

There would be 700 square metres of commercial space and six "work/live" apartments.

The existing Union Place car park has about 150 spaces. The plans say it has remained essentially untouched since the previous buildings on the site were knocked down.

The development will face onto Union Place, High Street and Chatsworth Road, with three to four-storey blocks facing out to the road, and the up to11-storey blocks in the middle.

Read more: Hundreds of homes could be built on site of derelict police station

Plans said each building in the development will be sustainable by either being connected to the Worthing heat network or using air source heat pumps to ensure low carbon emissions.

Plans for the wider site include making Union Place the tree-lined avenue it once was.

There will be some small gardens to increase the greenery and biodiversity in the town centre.

Historic street frontages along High Street and Union Place will also be repaired.

In a joint venture with local contractor Roffey Homes, the council will share the cost of the project and says it wants to ensure high-quality, environmentally friendly architecture and maximise the number of homes built.

Last year, council members approved the purchase of £6 million in shares of the joint venture. The joint venture company is called Union Gardens LLP.

The scheme has been recommended to be approved and will be discussed at Worthing Borough Council’s planning committee meeting tonight.